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Category Archives: My Creative Pieces
A bit of time out
It’s been a stressful week so it seemed like a good time to take a few minutes away from other people to mess about in the studio with some loud music, a bit of paper and some pens. Going through … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My books & journals, My drawing, My painting
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Quick monotypes
I had a quick dip into the world of monotypes recently after watching a few short videos. Essentially I spent a bit of time with ink, scrapers and credit cards to see what marks I could make. These two were … Continue reading
Revisiting a collagraph
Back in 2017 I attended a very good and frantically busy workshop exploring a range of printing methods. During the course we each constructed a collagraph plate, Shellacked, then inked and printed them. This was mine: On the left is … Continue reading
Collagraph: Scribbles
Exploring new techniques to create plates I got my mini drill out and, using a fine tip, applied it to the surface of a piece of mountboard. The aim was to produce a range of organic imprecise lines as opposed … Continue reading
Messing about with paint – Day 4
I noticed how similar my colour palettes were in my two previous pieces so decided to make some adjustments. I also took note of my comment that perhaps squiggles – a bit more organic than my blocks and lines – … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My painting
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Messing about with paint – Day 3
On day 3 of the challenge I stuck with acrylic paints, as I enjoyed them so much on the first day. After painting this piece I became stuck on what to do with it next. So I left it alone … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My painting
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Messing about with paint – Day 1
Last week two friends and I decided to join a 5 day on-line creative challenge. The basis was supposed to be painting but the ethos was pretty much ‘anything goes’. As it was a free thing, designed to enthuse participants … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My painting
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Project: etched swans
I made my first etched plates in 2016 and my first hard ground etching was some swans I had drawn. This was pretty boring, simple line work, and my tutor at the time thought adding some water and sky would … Continue reading
Project: Splat
A couple of weeks ago I was searching through my somewhat disorganised sketchbooks for something to translate into a photopolymer intaglio print (a solar plate print). This is my least favourite print style (after screenprinting) for a number of reasons. … Continue reading
Exhibition: Southern Printmakers
As I new member of this exhibiting group I was delighted to see my book ‘minimal’ on display at the Milk Factory Galleries (Pop-up 1 & 2) when I visited on Thursday. It was also an opportunity to see all … Continue reading
Collagraphs with handmade paper
I’ve long been told that it’s difficult to print intaglio on unsized handmade paper, so it was time to give it a go. I always print on quality cotton rag paper, usually 250gsm BFK Rives, so my failures can be … Continue reading
Collagraph: cutting and arranging
Several years ago I printed a series called ‘Other Worlds’ and I’ve now repurposed one of the original collagraph plates. My favourite print from the plate looked like this: I started by cutting the plate into pieces and sealing the … Continue reading
Paper from pulped fibres
A couple of weeks ago I posted about making paper pulp from a variety of materials including denim and hessian. After the workshop there was plenty left for me to use, so I made some paper from the hessian. It’s … Continue reading
Pulping fibres
Last week three of us met at Primrose Park to pulp a variety of fibres to be used to create paper at an upcoming workshop we’re teaching. As there will be several participants it called for a more industrial approach … Continue reading
Abstracting a design
This week I’ve been building resources in my sketchbook. An A5 pencil sketch of TV remote controls sitting on my cutting mat was followed by a closer view of a specific area in Sharpie pen. I picked these as my … Continue reading
Hard cover Coptic Stitch book
I’ve made books using Coptic Stitch in the past but yesterday I explored a method new to me. Previously I’ve worked individual threads up through the text block. So eight holes along the spine equates to 8 separate threads and … Continue reading
Posted in My books & journals, My Creative Pieces
Tagged Book-making, Coptic Stitch book
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Exploring Screen-printing
Last week I attended a 4 day screen-printing course with tutor Julie Ryder. Not only is she a very good practitioner, extremely well versed in the technicalities of the craft, but is also an excellent designer and tutor. Not all … Continue reading
Print swap
At the end of the year our printmaking group always do a swap and make books using a print from each member. It’s a great way to share and have a record of everyone, as some don’t continue the following … Continue reading
Posted in General fun pursuits, My prints
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Kozo: Fibre to Paper
I’ve started transforming some of my kozo fibre (general term for the inner bark of mulberry trees) into sheets of paper. I cut some up and left other bits as long strands. I purchased this as per the photo below … Continue reading
Brain Clutter: Plate 1
New project I’ve had a lot going on recently and have felt a little overloaded with thoughts, conflicts and noise – all internally. My new project, being created as an extension of my recent collagraphs, aims to document some of … Continue reading
Collagraph: Man-made – progress
I first showed this print plate in October where I discovered the issue of using Shellac that had been made for a while and then shaken to remix. Tiny particles had hardened and subsequently transferred to the plate and printed … Continue reading
Collagraph: Lines & Boxes
I’m enjoying exploring new collagraph materials and these 15cm square bases give enough space to quickly create small unified pieces. Stage 1 For this plate I started with varnished mountboard which I lightly sanded to get a roughened surface. Lines … Continue reading
Collagraph: continuing Hexagons
I really enjoyed making this plate and the resulting prints I showed in an earlier blog, so I’ve continued with some colour experimentation. I’ve moved from the warmer sepia, red and orange/yellow hues into a much cooler set of colours; … Continue reading
Collagraph: Hexagons
My new collagraph comes as a result of further experimentation leading from my ‘Man-made’ project in October. The strata has been constructed using a variety of media including, from left to right, Akua carborundum gel, several layers of torn handmade … Continue reading
Collagraph: Man-made
Using minimal materials; essentially mountboard, a couple of pieces of lightweight paper and some adhesive foil, I built a low-relief multi-layered collagraph plate. I cut into a few areas, removing the mountboard surface, thereby encouraging the ink to ‘grab’ the … Continue reading
Blizzard structures
Hedi Kyle is the coauthor, with her daughter, Ulla Warchol, of The Art of the Fold, a step-by-step guide to making a wide range of original structures. Over the past 3 weeks I’ve been exploring 6 of her designs based … Continue reading
Project: Treads notebook
From time to time I use my prints as covers for notebooks. Today I used my hand-coloured print from my ongoing Treads project. Might as well use it rather than shoving it in a drawer for ever. It’s a simple … Continue reading
Posted in My books & journals, My Creative Pieces, My prints
Tagged Acid etching, Book-making
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Project: Treads
Car and truck tires seem to have been in my peripheral vision lately so I drew a few and collaged them together to form a rectangular design. Being such a fan of geometric and linear imagery I was pleased with … Continue reading
Banksia Book – Constructed
Over recent months I’ve documented my progress in printing some Banksia themed solar plates I was given late last year. Some of them are quite worn, or possibly not etched deeply enough to start with, but they have been a … Continue reading
Project: Information Highway
Take two products … Last year I invested in several new stencils. In theory I could have cut some of them myself but the strain on my hands and possible mistakes when doing this wasn’t worth it. So the question … Continue reading
Workshop: Eco-printing with Wendy Joyce
Anyone who follows my site will know I’ve done a bit of eco-printing/dyeing over the years, but I’ve never tried it using a steaming method. Last week I was introduced to this new technique by eco-printer Wendy Joyce in her … Continue reading
Exploration: Journey
I’m currently part of an on-line creative exploration course. It’s nothing onerous, just something to stimulate ideas and create some random drawings without too much thought. The word for the day was ‘Journey’ and I jotted down a few things … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My Creative Pieces
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Coptic stitch sketchbook
Last week I did a short online Coptic stitch tutorial. I’ve only done this stitching twice before and neither time has the process really stuck in my mind. However, this tutorial was superb and with the benefit of videos which … Continue reading
Posted in My books & journals, My Creative Pieces
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Banksia solar plates: further prints
I’ve now completed printing the remaining solar plates featuring Banksia designs that I was given. These are currently being dried ready to be formed into a book showcasing the best of the plates. Here are a few more of the … Continue reading
Gel plate collagraph printing
I recently read an article describing the technique of pressing collagraph plates into an inked gelli plate surface, followed by pulling the print from the gelli plate – not the collagraph. In essence, a transfer print. My normal printing routine … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My Creative Pieces, My prints
Tagged Collagraphs, Gelli plate
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Banksia solar plates: new prints
Since my last post regarding the etched solar plates I was recently given I’ve been experimenting with different papers and colourways to see what effects I can get. The plates are several years old and some of the etching isn’t … Continue reading
Banksia Book – Part 1
I recently wrote about some etched solar plates I’ve been given, which I’ve started printing. My aim is to create a book showcasing the prints to give to the friend who kindly donated the plates. My criteria are as follows: … Continue reading
Posted in Design Play, My books & journals, My Creative Pieces, My prints
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2021 Artists’ Book Award Exhibition
Friday, 19 February 2021 – 10:00am to Sunday, 28 March 2021 – 4:00pm In partnership with Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Northern Beaches Council Libraries hold an Artists’ Book Award attracting entries from around the world. From the exhibited selection … Continue reading
Posted in Exhibitions & Artists, My books & journals, My Creative Pieces
Tagged Book-making
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TactualTextiles 